The African Union, the Transformation and Challenges of a Continent

Abstract

The establishment of the African Union was noteworthy in the way it undermined the authoritarian theory and practice of its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity. The justification was based on the right of peaceful co-existence of member states and—as a consequence—the right of member states to request intervention from the Union in order to restore peace and security. The African Union’s Constitutive Act introduced an array of responsibilities, powers, and rules that challenged the premises of Africa’s earlier leaders. The Act established how the Union would carry out its business through a network of organs, agencies, government ministries, and NGOs, which this paper examines in some detail. While the organizational structure attempted to balance national and continental concerns, it also revealed an obvious weakness in the power of its three principal parliamentary, administrative and legal bodies. Although AU has made great strides in building an institution committed to human security and development, there is need to sharpen its focus, and bring about more specificity in organizational goals. The dual missions of a movement championing the independence of sovereign African states and simultaneously creating a homeland for all of African descent were, if not contradictory, at least so divergent as to strain the ability of its leaders to ensure a lasting consensus. While the initial vision was a powerful one and attracted a group of true believers, the complexities of a modern global economy have demanded an array of new developmental strategies to meet this challenge. The challenges include but not limited to good governance in Africa, alleviation of poverty and hunger, as well as hindrances to citizen participation, especially women, in civic and state affairs.

Keywords: AU, OAU, African Transformation, African Challenges